He's the only stable thing in the swirling chaos." ― Beth Revis, A Million Suns
"Gabriel is missing," Kikara appears behind Mirasal, dabbing her tears with the pads of her fingertips. "He said he'd be right back and it's been all day," she pauses, sniffling before continuing. "I don't know who else to go to. It's just I'm scared."
"He probably went home to Susana-" Mirasal stumbles, almost dropping the empty metal tray she was holding as Kikara suddenly wraps her arms around her.
"No. He would have said. He would have. He wouldn't have left without telling me. There's something wrong," Kikara replies, gazing off, shaking her head. "I didn't mean to act...I mean I-" she squeezes her tightly, almost crushing her. "I don't know what to do. I don't know who to talk to."
"You don't need to do anything, it's fine," Mirasal sighs, taking this almost-apology for what it was, squirming, but ultimately yielding to the embrace. "I'm sure he's around. Don't worry."
Kikara straightens, giving one last sniffle before she wonders off. "I'm going to the kitchen. More drinks are needed." she says as she nervously surveys the crowd, scuttering through the sea of rowdy guests.
As evening approaches, the lights in the hotel are coming on, illuminating the lobby. Mirasal looks up the main stairwell, eclipsed by all the people meandering about, trying to see if Robert was going to surface. Perhaps he's tied up with a client. He mentioned there could be potential business deals around. She was anxious for this convention to end-and it looked like it was going to be a while longer- as their discussion before was abruptly interrupted by Tomah.
She leaves the tray on a nearby stand and heads to the room, squeezing her way in between the patrons, passing by Tomah having a debate with the Aniterran inventor.
"You invaded our planet first." the man says as Tomah shakes his head at him. His response is muffled as she gets farther away from their impromptu parley.
Upon entering her room, however, there's nothing but an empty bed and no sign that he was anywhere.
"Robert?" Mirasal stands, glancing around when she catches something on the nightstand, obscured by the lamp and barely visible.
"What?" she whispers as she moves to take a closer look; the turtle trinket. Undoubtedly the one she'd made. She takes another cursory scan of the room.
No Harold either. Perhaps that is where Robert is; off with his brother.
Hope warms over her as she touches the turtle. The room suddenly becomes shrouded in darkness with but a single large beam of light flooding down upon a circle of eleven human males, all varying ages, all wearing coal-black uniforms with large gold buttons along the breast. Each one with a distant mien and an aura of somberness, murmuring among themselves. Their eyes are a pupil-less smooth marigold as they stare down at one laying in the center.
The man's features are obscured by the other men's legs, only hints of a tuft of silver hair visible amid their boots.
A younger one, merely a boy, comes forward, gazing down at the deceased. "Our mighty brother, once strong and beautiful, who arose from the Prim with us is dead. Poisoned and weakened and now dead." The boy kneels down to place two large rose petals upon the man's eyes. All eleven drop their chins and start to say a prayer in an indiscernible language.
With her breathing heavy, Mirasal slowly, charily, begins to approach the group of strangers, none of whom seem to take notice of her presence. Before she can get a glimpse of the dead man's face, the young boy appears to direct a question at her.
YOU ARE READING
Reverie
Mystery / Thriller"The Losers Club had driven It from the personal gaming reserve It had made. Now, it was time for It to make a new one. Just as It had to create a new physical form after Its other was destroyed by those hated ones. And It wants no more to feel. No...
